The Community Garden Society of Inuvik (CGSI) is a not-for-profit organization formed in November of 1998. With the help and support of Aurora College, we began by converting a decommissioned building (the former Grollier Hall Arena), into a community greenhouse as a focal point for community development. The objective was to utilize this space to allow for the production of a variety of crops in an area where fresh, economical produce is often unavailable. Based upon the success to date, we believe that the Inuvik Community Greenhouse will serve as an effective model for other northern communities.

During the spring and early summer of 1999, the project progressed from the conceptual and feasibility stage into the renovation/construction phase, and then through to the operational stage.

The greenhouse consists of two major areas: raised community garden plots on the main floor and a commercial greenhouse on the second floor. Garden plots are available to residents of Inuvik, and are also sponsored for elders, group homes, children's groups, the mentally disabled, and other local charities. A 4000 square foot commercial greenhouse produces bedding plants and hydroponic vegetables to cover operation and mangement costs. There are rooms for storage, an office for staff and a classroom for gardening classes. The Inuvik Community Greenhouse is now fully operational. The summer of 2000 saw the first test run of sample hydroponic crops and bedding plants, which were successfully sold to the community.

In the construction of the greenhouse, we were able to use $61,000 of building materials liberated from the old Grollier Hall site. The original area framework was left intact and most of our floors, windows, and doors as well as many other structural elements were built using recycled materials. Styrofoam cups and milk cartons were used as temporary pots for some of our bedding plants. We have also set up a compost facility. The Community Garden Society endeavors to serve as a role model in the North for recycling and composting.